Improvement in gas-machines



4 heets+Sheet 1.

T. B. FOGARTY.

GAS-MACHINE,

Patented Jilly 11, 1876.

l l l i I .I II I II 'II M NKWN N- PETERS, PHOTD-LITHDGRAPNER, WASNINBTON. D C.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'r. B. FOGARTY.

GAS-MACHINE. No .179,65Z. Patented J'u1y11,1876.

N. PETERS. FHO

THOMAS B. FOGARTY,

PATENT CFFIGE.

or NEW YORK, n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-MACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,652, dated July 11, 1876; application filed January 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS E. FOGARTY, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Gas-lvIachines, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to that class of gasmachines in which hydrocarbon liquid is vaporized under pressure in a heated retort, and in which a proper supply and'admixture of air is induced and maintained by the inductive force of the hydrocarbon vapor escaping through a small jet or opening, the manufac ture and supply of gas being regulated and controlled automatically by the rising and falling of the gas-holder.

The object of my improvements is to simplify the action of such machines and to render them more definite, positive, and reliable in their functions, and less liable to accident; and this I efi'ectby the addition and combination of certain devices.

I will now proceed to describe my improved gas-machine and the manner of its construction and operation, which willbe more readily understood by referring to the tour accompanying sheets of drawings, which represent a complete gas apparatus in section and figures of special parts of the mire-gearin The material from which I manufacture gas in my machine is a volatile product of the distillation of petroleum, commonly known as gasoline. I place the gasoline in a suitable tank or reservoir, A, which I connect with the retort B of my machine by a suitable pipe, 0, provided with the stop-cock I). The gasoline is forced into the retort B under a pressure of fifteen po'unds, more or less, such pressure, when practicable and convenient, being procured by placing the tank .A at such an eleation above the machine that the weight of the liquid itself will give the desired pressure. In most cases, however, it is impracticable and inconvenient to do this, so that I usually prefer to use the well-known device for forcing liquids by pneumatic pressure, as shown in the drawing.

In the drawing, A represents my tank hermetically closed by the plug a, as shown. The tank is represented as being partially filled with liquid, as shown at a, and having an airspace at top, as shown at a. I now, by means of the air-pump E, force air into the tank until the tension of the compressed. air in the tank equals the desired pressure, as indicated by a gage, F. The elastic force of the compressed air acting upon the surface of the liquid in the tank will now cause it to rise in the pipe 0, and flow into the retort. Thepipe G, which is shown in section, extends down into the tank, but so that there is acousideraole space between the end of the pipe and the bottom of the tank. This pipe serves as a test or gage pipe by which to learn when the liquid in the tank is nearly exhausted; for, as shown in the drawings, I provide it at top with a small cock, by opening which I can learn whether the liquid in the tank has been exhausted to below the end of the pipe; for if the cock throws out a jet of liquid I know that the end of G is still iunnersed in gasoline; but if it throws out a stream or jet of air, I know that the liquid has been exhausted to below the end of the pipe, and that it is time to look after a fresh supply.

I have now shown the means by which I supply the hydrocarbon liquid to my retort, viz: hydrostatic pressure, where I can, and where I cannot avail-myselfof that, pneumatic pressure. In the former case I require only an ordinary tank or reservoir, with an eduction-pipe or outlet at bottom, and an air-vent at top; but in the latter case I require a tank absolutely air-tight, and it ought to be capable of standing from within a pressure of at least fifty pounds, and I use, in combination with it, and as a means of forcing liquid into.

the retort, and for the other purposes described, the several pipes and cocks and the air-pump, as described.

I now close the vapor-valve H in the manner hereafter to be described, and, having opened the cock I), allow the liquid to enter and filllthe retort l5. 1 next open the cock I upon the pipe J, taking care that the cock K upon the pipe L has been previously closed, so as to cut off communication between the pump E and the tank A. I now, by means of the pump E, force air through the pipe J into a small carbm'eting-drip, M, communicating with the gas'holder, and containing a small quantity of gasoline, in its passage through r to admit of its being burned as gas.

2 trance which the air becomes carbureted suffioiently I new light the burner S under the retort.

This device for heating the retort difit'ers from that described and claimed in my patent of June 6, 1871, No. 115,592. In the specification of this patent I described and claimed a hydrocarbon-tank for forcing compressed air, &c., whereas in my present specification I describe a device for pumping air through a carbureting-drip communicating with the gas-holder. In the former the air was carbureted in a close tank, while in the present it is carbureted in an open drip communicating freely with the gasholder.

It will be remembered that the valve H was closed before allowing the retort to fill with gasoline. Consequently the only outlet from the retort is the supply-pipe through which the gasoline entered it. .Now, as soon as .the retort attains suflicient heat, vapor will begin to form, and as it forms will displace the liquidcin the retort, and force it back to the tank, for, as communication is open between the retort and the tank, it is evident there must be a perfect equilibrium of pressure between them, for as soon as the pressure in the retort exceeds that in the tank in the slightest degree it will force its contents back to the tank and out of the influence of the heat, so that no more vapor can form until some of that in the retort is allowed to escape, when the pressure within it becomes reduced below that in the tank, which immediately forces back to the retort liquid' for the formation o't 'vapor s ufifi cient to restore the equilibrium.

I do not claim that there is any novelty in the above method of regulating the supply of liquid to and the pressure in the retorts of gas-machines.

I refer to this method of supplying liquids to retorts, and describe it here, only because such description is necessary to the proper understanding of the construction and operation of my machine, and make no claim Whatever to it or the devices by which I carry it into effect, except in so far as they are part of my apparatus, and in combination therewitln I shall here describe the retort B, in which I convert the hydrocarbon liquid into vapor, and the stove U, as these constitute an important part of my invention. I construct my retort of any suitable material, but preferably of iron, and furnish it with heat-conducting flanges b, as shown in Fig. 2. These flanges answer the double purpose of serving as guides to retain the retort in its proper position in the stove, and also as heat absorbers and conductors. They also serve to distribute the heated products of combustion more evenly over the surface of the retort. I also construct the retort so that a flange, b, attached to its top, will form the top of the stove. This flange is provided with a suitable outlet for the products of combustion, and also with a circular flange, b, made to fit into the space between the walls 0 of the stove O. The advantage of this construction of the retort is that it greatly facilitates and cheapens the construction of the machine, as it enables mto dispense with the set-screws formerly used in constructing machines. The circular flange b, tting between the walls of the stove 0, also serves to render the point of contact between them and the retort impervious to the passage of flame.-

I construct my stove in such a manner that the fire within it will be absolutely isolated from the interior of the gas-house, thereby rendering accident from fire impossible, and to this end I construct it in the following manner: I first make its walls 0 doublethat is, with a space between them, and by means of the circular flange b, or its equivalent, or in such other manner as may be most convenient, I make thejoint between the stove and the top of the retort impervious to the passage of flame, so that will be impossible for the burners within'the stove to communicate with and inflame an'inflammable gaseous mixture surrounding the stove externally. I also attach the door-frame of the stovenot shown in the drawingin such a manner that at its points ofjuuction with the side of the stove it will make a joint impervious to flame. I also plane the face of the'door-frame, and of the door itself, so that when the door is closed the metals will be brought into such close contact that the passage of the flame between them will be impossible. I next connect the chimney with the stove by ajoint sufficiently tight to prevent the passage of flame; and I make the joints of the chimney itself sufficiently tight for the same purpose. I make the point ot'junction between the stove and the bedplate of the machine and all the joints connected therewith, as well as the holes through which the gasoline-pipe 0 and the pipe Q, through which gas is supplied to the burner S, pass, sufficiently tight to prevent the passage of flame. I also make a flame-proofjoint around the stem It of the burner-cock of the burner S, under the retort. In this or in an equivalent manner I isolate the interior of the stove from the external atmosphere or gases, except through the flue T and the pipe U, through which air is supplied for the support ofthe combustion within the stove, for, as the heated products ascend and escape through the pipe P, a supply of cold external air descends and enters the stove through the pipe U and flue T. to the outside of the gas-house, and consequently these'being the only means of communication with the interior of the stove the latter is completely isolated from the atmosphere or vapors contained in the gas-house. I do not, however, confine myself to this method of isolating the interior of the stove, as the same purpose might be effected by inclosing the entire stove in an isolated chamber, the opening of which would have no communication with the interior of the gashouse.

Having now described the mode of con- I carry these pipes U and T structing my stove and retort, as well as the manner of supplying hydrocarbon liquid to the latter, and of the conversion of said liquid into vapor, as well as the manner of regulating and controlling the supply of gasoline to and the pressure within the retort, I shall now describe the process by which the vapor so formed is mixed in the proper proportions with atmosphericair, the devices by which such mixture is effected, regulated, and controlled, and also the method of regulating and controlling the manufacture of gas, and its supply to the burners as required for use, as well as the several devices and apparatus which I use for this purpose. 7

The method of reducing a current of air in any desired proportion by means of a jet of vapor issuing at a light velocity through a small opening, H, into the mouth of a larger tube, V, has been so often described, and is so well understood, that it is unnecessary for me to describe it here, especially as 1 do-not claim that there is any novelty in this part of my invention; nor do I claim that there is anynovelty in an auton'latic gas-holder, as the same has been often previously described; but I do claim that there is novelty in the valve-gear, by which I mean that part of the machine inclosed by a dotted line, XXX, and the essential working parts of which are represented on Sheets 2 and 3, by the action of which the holder automatically regulates and controls the manufacture and supply of gas, according to the requirements of the consumption. I also claim that there is novelty in the carburetingdrip Y, the float y, and the valve y, and also in the safety-float A B,

and these 1 shall now proceed to describe.

In the automaticallyworking valve-gears heretofore described and used by Maxim, myself, and others, the opening and closing of thcjet H were effected by means of springs or weights operating the valve A G, and moved to either side of the center of motion through the agency of levers suitably connected with the gas-holder and operated thereby. In some of the movements so described the action of the springs or weights was in some measure checked and regulated by a detent. in nearly all, however, there was no detent. whatever, the springs or weights being free to act at either side of the center of motion, whenever their tendency to that side would become sufficiently powerful to open aae the valve-gear. My new valve-gear dit fers most radically from all that have gone before it, inasmuch as there is no center of motion the opening and closing movements of the valves being governed by the movements of separate levers operating separately and alternately, yet in harmony with each other, each part being operated by a separate weight, and the movements of all being controlled by a series of cams and detents.

0n reference to the drawing it will be seen that the gas-holder is attached by the center rod A D tothe horizontal bar A E, which is hung in the stud A M under the stove, and

carries at its projecting end the counter-bah ance A F. The bar A E is connected at the point e by the rod A G to the lever A H, to which itcommunicates the motions of the holder as it rises or falls, so as to operate the valve-gear and automatically stop and restart the manufacture of gas, according to the requirements of the consumption. As represented in the drawing, thevalve H is open, and the holder is being inflated with gas, and consequently is rising out of the water-seal.

On looking at the drawing it will be seen that the vaporvalve A U is keptopen by the action ofthe weight No. 1 attached to the lever B 0 bearing down the end of this lever, to which it is attached, and so causing its upper end 0 to press against the boss 0' upon the stem of the valve A G, and thus hold it open. In the position in which the machine is represented in the drawing the lever B U is perfectly at rest, and does not move at all, but as the holder is inflated and rises out of the water, carrying with it the lever A H. A projecting spur, B l), upon the latter engages with a similar spur, B E, upon B U. The levers A H and B 0 now mterlock, and, as the holder becomes inflated and rises have a corresponding upward mot-ion imparted to them. The boss 6' upon the valvestem is now released, from the pressure of e, which releases it, being forced to do so by the upward movement of B 0, part of which it is, the valve meanwhile continuing wide open. As soon as the holder has risen to nearly the upper end of its stroke a detent, n, which works upon the supporting-rod d, falls behind the upper end 6 of the lever B C, and engages in it, preventing its backward movement. This detent is actuated by the weight No. 2. Meanwhile asector or cam, r, upon A H, has been moving in unison with it, and has been retaining in its position the. lever 61. This lever 61' carries a laterally-pro]ecting pin, m, which rests upon the upper surface of the sector 01".

Immediately, however, after the lever B O has been locked in position by the detent n, as before mentioned, the sector 61' passes from under the projecting pin m of the lever 61', allowing the weight No. 3 to operate this lever so as to bring its upper end m to bear upon the boss 0 and close the vaponvalve A O, and simultaneously with it the air-valve m, connected with it by the rod a. The

manufacture of gas being now stopped the holder commences to fall, carrying with it the lever A H. The lever B G, however, does not move in unison with A H, for it must be remembered that it has been locked by the detent a falling behind it, so that as A H is car ried downward by the falling gas-holder the spurs B l) and B E become unlocked from each other, and the lever BU remains st:- tionary, its upper end 0 being locked by the detent a into such a position that it shall not press against the boss 6', which, as l have said before, is acted on so as to keep the valve A 0 closed by the weight No. 3 acting on the lever 61', so as to bring it to bear against it and to keep A 0 closed. When, however, the holder descends, carrying A H with it, a pro jecting arm, .10, upon the latter raises the detent at. and so releases B (J, the weight upon which immediately operates it so as to bring its upper end 0 against the boss 6' and throw open the vapor and air valves with a quick snap motion. It will be remembered that the va 'ior-valve had been closed and kept closed by the weight No. 3 bringing the upper end m of the lever 01 to bear against the boss 6. The weights No. l and No. 3 are, however, so proportioned to eachother that, while No. 3 has power enough to keep the vapor-valve tightly closed against the pressure of the vapor, No. 1 has got power enough to open this valve against the pressure of No. 3. Both sets of weights and levers are thus made to act alternately, their mutual dependence and reciprocal action being regulated by the movements of the lever A H, which is in turn operated by the rising and falling of the gasholder.

Having described the working parts of the valve-gear I shall now describe the part played by the hanging bob a. This bob, it will be perceived, is merely intended to keep in a vertical position a bracket hung upon the supporting-rod a. The lever A H carries upon its hub a spur, y, projecting across this bracket, so that it' by any chance the holder should rise or fall above or below the normal limits of its movement the spur upon its hub will engage in the bracket attached to a", carrying it with it, and causing its upper end 9 to describe a short are of a curve. Now, 9 carries a projecting pin, which projects under and supports a corresponding pin or stud projecting from thearm g working upon the supporting-rod (1, and having attached to it the weight No. 4.

The bracket is kept in a perpendicular position by the hanging bob a", and it continues in this position as long as the holder does not exceed to any extent the limits of its upward or downward stroke. As soon, however, as this occurs, which can only be through want of pressure or some derangement of the machine, the stud 3 upon the hub ot'A H engages in the bracket, and causes its upper end 9 to describe a short are of a circle, in consequence of which the projecting pin upon g becomes disengaged from that upon the arm 9, which, being thus released, is carried down by the weight No. 4 attached to it.

Now, the arm g carries upon its hub a spur, g, so adjusted that it will not ordinarily interfere with the normal working of the lever d; but as soon, however, as the arm 9 is released through some derangement of the machine, as already described, and is brought into action by the weight No. at, the spur g engages the vertical portion of d, which, it

' has been said, is actuated by the weight N0.

3, when the action of the combined weights Nos. 3 and 4 being thus brought to bear upon 61' are suflicient to close the valve even against the opposing influence of weight No. 1. Thus the bobn and the bracket g remain perfectly quiescent during the normal working of the machine, and come into play only in case of loss of pressure or other derangement of the machine, in which case they close the vaporvalve, and thus prevent an escape and consequentloss of gasoline.

It will be seen that by placing the counterbalance A F upon either side of the stud A M, the pressure of the gas-holder can be increased or diminished at pleasure. The weights are represented as being suspended from .the levers; but it is evident that fixed weights or springs might, in some cases, be advantageously employed.

I shall now proceed to describe the carbureting-drip Y. This drip serves for a double purpose. As I have already said, I use it as a means of carbureting air for the purpose of heating the retort to start the machine when there is not a supply of gas on hand for that purpose. I also use it as asafeguard or preventive against an overflow, and consequent loss of gasoline. It a derangement should occur when there is a large number of lights burning, and there is consequently a heavy consumption of gas, and the holder should consequently rise or fall above or below the normal points for reversing its motion, the bracket will release the arm g, which will fall and close the vapor-valve, so as to prevent a loss of gasoline. If, however, such derangement should occur when there are buta few burners lighted, an overflow of gasoline would probably take place. The vapor produced by the warm gasoline would probably be sufficient to feed the few burners lighted. Consequently the gasoline would continue to overflow, and, though a. time would eventually come when the arm g would be brought into action, so as to stop the flow of gasoline by closing the vapor-valve, a considerable loss of I gasoline would, however, take place meanwhile. It is for the purpose of preventing this loss by hastening the action of g, and making it almost coincident with the first overflow of gasoline through the jet H, that l have devised the combination of the carburetingdrip Y, float 1 and valve 3 as shown in the drawings. For the moment gasoline begins to come over, it will flow into the drip Y, when the float 11 will raise the valve 9, in consequence of which there will be a rapid escape of gas from the holder, the same as if there was a large number of burners lighted. The holder will now fall rapidly, and thus bring the arm g into operation, so as to close the jet H, and stop the further flow of gasoline.

I will now describe the float A B inside the holder on the top of the inlet or outlet pipe. This float is intended to prevent the water in the holder-tank being allowed to fall too low. For, in this case, the float will fall with the water, and the capp on top will close the pipe, and in combination with the pipes P and U and stop the flow of gas, so that the Waterand the flue T, substantially as described.

seal must be renewed before the machine can be used again. When the machine is Work- THOS. B. FOGARTY. in g, the gas enters the pipe through openings Witnesses: at the sides p. ADAM Fox,

I elaim- Solicitor, llfanchester.

In automatically-working gas-machines, a JOSEPH OHUSTER,

stove, 0, fitted with joints impervious to flame, Clerk, Manchester. 

